Parents have told the ECHO of upset and anxiety at plans to change ward that has provided important care for their children
Aliesha Morley said her daughter Alora has received incredible care on Ward 4C at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Families have reacted with “devastation” to news of major changes planned for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, which they say will leave them without a lifeline ward for their children.
On Thursday the ECHO revealed that the hospital trust is proposing a huge change concerning its existing 4C general paediatrics medical ward, which currently cares for a number of young patients with a range of complex needs.
Staff on the ward told us they were “heartbroken” after being told the ward in its current form is essentially being closed down, with 75 nurses, healthcare assistants, catering staff and ward managers being redeployed elsewhere.
Alder Hey bosses say it is wrong to say the ward is being closed, stating the proposals will “redesign the way care is delivered” on Ward 4C, “changing it from an inpatient ward to an extended Paediatric Assessment Unit/Emergency Decision Unit and Same Day Emergency Care Unit.”
But this will come as little comfort to mum Aliesha Morley, 29, for whom Ward 4C and its staff have been an absolute lifeline over the past two years.
After her daughter Alora was born with a range of complex needs, the family have spent a great deal of time on Ward 4C and have built up strong relationships with the teams working on it.
Aliesha, from Lydiate, told the ECHO: “Alora was first admitted to Alder Hey when she was 10 days old. She then spent a long period of time there, about five months straight on ward 4C, then we got discharged and we have been back there every six weeks since.”
The young mum says her daughter, now aged 2, has a “unique” range of complex needs that have left doctors struggling to find the underlying causes, but says the family have taken great comfort from how well she has been looked after on 4C.
She said: “The nurses on 4C know all this and they know every little change with her when it happens and all her needs. When we get admitted we don’t have to go through everything because the staff know her so well.
“In the past we have been admitted to a different ward and then moved back to 4C because the nurses just don’t know her well enough and it was putting her at risk. That ward has been a very big part of our lives.”
“It’s not just the nurses, even down to the chef’s on the ward who know about her allergies. Everyone there knows Alora and what she needs and that has been so important for us. I literally don’t think I would have been able to cope without them all. They have gone above and beyond every single time for us.”
Aliesha said she found out about the major changes that will see her daughter unable to use ward 4C in the same way this week and was left “devastated.”
She added: “Alora had a hospital appointment on Wednesday and that’s when I found out. It was really upsetting, the negative effect this could have on my daughter and my family is crazy. We are supposed to put trust in these people and we have built that trust up for two years, I don’t know how you can just say, we will go and put that trust in someone who doesn’t know her and doesn’t know her needs.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
“This really is the last thing I needed. It is just horrendous and will make me very anxious when taking her to hospital now. it’s come as a complete shock to the whole family.”
Aliesha, who has raised a complaint with the hospital trust, is not the only parent or family member to be hit hard by the news. The ECHO Facebook page is full of responses from people who say they relied on Ward 4C and are now worried about the future.
Lisa Cluskey said: “4C is an amazing ward with a brilliantly skilled staff team. They have helped my child so much over the past few years and countless other young people like her.
“The staff know and understand patients needs and genuinely make a horrible time that bit easier. I wonder if the decision has taken into account where some of the patients from specific services will be treated as they don’t have specialist wards and require staff that understand what is needed. I will always be grateful for the outstanding care that 4C have delivered and how much they have helped my daughter.”
Louise Utton added: “4C may be a general ward but it is incredible and has the most amazing staff. They remember my son every time he comes in, our whole family actually, and are so responsive, adaptable and provide the very best care – even when it’s an unusual or specialist situation.
“My son is an extremely complex disabled little boy and has been very very poorly on 4C and each time I couldn’t have dreamt for better care from the nurses. I really hope the hospital plans factor all of this in and make sure that is not lost.”
Lyndsey Shields said: “My son has complex medical needs and we always go to ward 4C and we feel at ease as we know the staff on there and they know my son extremely well. The staff are amazing and they have played such a huge part of my son’s life and still are.
“I can’t imagine 4C not being there. They play such a vital role for so many families with children with complex needs. Staff always go above and beyond on this ward.”
In an updated statement, a spokesperson for Alder Hey said: “Alder Hey is consulting on proposals to redesign the way care is delivered on Ward 4C, changing it from an inpatient ward to an extended Paediatric Assessment Unit/Emergency Decision Unit and Same Day Emergency Care Unit.
“They are part of wider plans to ensure Alder Hey continues to meet the needs of children and young people, with more care now delivered through rapid assessment and same-day emergency care pathways, reducing the need for overnight hospital stays.
“The proposals include reconfiguring Ward 4C in a different area, where children and young people requiring inpatient admission will continue to receive high-quality, specialised care at Alder Hey.
“Patient safety and quality of care remain our priority, and no colleagues will lose their jobs as part of this process; there are no planned redundancies or changes to grading. Colleagues will be redeployed to roles across the Trust and will be fully supported throughout the consultation and transition process, including any additional training required.
“We are committed to working alongside families and staff throughout this consultation process to ensure that any proposed changes are implemented safely, that continuity of care is maintained, and that colleagues are fully supported.”